Histology of the Liver

The liver lobes consist of hexagonal-shaped hepatic lobules, each radiating from a cen­tral vein. The basic cells are the hepatocytes, which surround sinusoids. Blood enters the sinusoids from both portal venules (about 75%) and hepatic arterioles. Following complex chemical exchanges, the blood leaves the sinusoids to enter the central veins, which drain via hepatic veins to the caudal vena cava.

The hepatic lobules also contain bile canaliculi that receive bile secreted by the hepatocytes. The bile drains to the common bile duct via progressively larger bile ducts.

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